Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

1224 Motion Picture News Too Much Tinsel, Says Ince of Productions PRODUCERS are providing too much tinsel and not enough truths in their productions, and authors are seeking after spectacular effects to clothe old themes instead of sticking to stories that arouse fundamental emotions; these, in the opinion of Thomas H. Ince, represent the gravest defects in the making of motion pictures at the present time. Mr. Ince gave expression to these thoughts during the course of a recent interview. " The trouble with pictures," he said, " is too much elaboration, too much use of worn-out themes for stories, too much artificiality, too much extravagance, too much appeal to superficial emotions; and not enough simplicity, not enough truth, not enough sincerity, not enough recognition of the importance of simple things." Mr. Ince also expressed the opinion that the present depression in production is merely temporary, but declared that the resumption of studio work will lead to different and less elaborate style of productions than heretofore. Hodkinson Scents A Boom Last of Present Kineto Series Released "Let's See the Animals," one of the famous animal studies in the Kineto Review group of the Urban Popular Classics, released next week, marks the last release of the second series of Kineto Reviews. The third series follows immediately after. Specimens of the wonderful collection in the Philadelphia Zoological Society are contained in this reel; its range is extraordinary. Pictures of one of the finest lions in America, of the Madagascar tree boa, the bliie-tongucd lizard, the coypu rat, the spoon-bill stork, the South African ostrich hens, the Zebu, which is of India's sacred cattle ; the fallow deer, the American elk, the eagle, the bison, polar bears — these and many others. Adds to Sales a Staffs, Preparing IN a statement issued during the week, W. W. Hodkinson declares that his organization despite the summer slump has experienced the biggest August business that it has ever known. This business followed in the wake of a 20 per cent increase in the sales forces of the Hodkinson organization. It is on the strength of the quick response to the sales-effort put forth that Mr. Hodkinson declares he bases his opinion that the summer slump is now passed and that the industry will find itself, within a fortnight, in the midst of one of the busiest autumn seasons it has ever experienced. ■' Not only ha\ e we increased our sales force, but, in line with m\ declaration months ago, that the motion picture industrj must attract bigger, better brains or else struggle along on an insecure foundation, I have added to the administrative end of our business two men who have been conspicuously successful in handling big executive problems in other fields of endeavor. " One of them is our new vicepresident and general manager, Mr. F. C. Munroe, an expert in corporate organization and a man with a record for getting things done. Mr. Miinroe served for many years in an executive capacity with the New England Telephone Company, for which corporation he developed a very successful system of divisional organization. " The other addition to our executi\c staff is Mr. Foster Gilroy who takes charge of our Promotion Department. Mr. Gilroy is a newspaper man of wide acquaintance, and brings to our already efficient advertising and publicity department a ripe experience in every avenue of exploitation. He was for some years promotion manager for the Frank A. Munsey Publications ; handled the very successful promotiim of the Old Colony Club; and was general manager and subsequently editor of " Puck," the oldest humorous journal in America. ■' Out on the Coast, Mr. S. J. Vogel, one of the banner producers of the New York Life Insurance Company, and Mr. John H. nd Administrative for Fall Rush Meehan formerly of the Paramount forces, have organized the firm of Vogel & Meehan to handle our product exclusively. Their progressive methods have firmly established our pictures in the Far West. " The European distribution of Hodkinson releases is in the hands of Mr. VVm. C. Vogel, who established an international reputation in the handling of the Chaplin pictures abroad, Mr. Vogel is forming powerful contacts for our organization both in England and on the Continent." "After Midnight " Set for September 20 Ralph Ince directed Conwav Tearle^ in "After Midnight," and Zcna Keefe is leading woman, thus making the latest offering in the Tearle series of Selznick pictures qualify, literally, as a three-star presentation. " After Midnight " will be released September 20th as the first offering in the series of six features starring Tearle in the promised "Forty from Selznick" during the ensuing year. John Lynch furni;-hcd the story and scenario of "After Midnight," the feature being referred to in the first announcements as "Ye Shall Pav." Complete Cast of "The Happy Ending" Annoiuicement from the West Coast is to the effect that with the securing of Kathleen Kirkhani to play "the other woman," casting of "The Happy Ending," by Hector Turnbull has finally been completed. It is to be Realart's eleventh production of the current season. May McAvoy is seen as the little drudge housekeeper of her two uncles, a carpenter and bootmaker, played by Charles Ogle and Guy Oliver respectively. These men are two of the cleverest and bestknown character players in filmdom. Other players include Lincoln Stedman, Darrel Foss, Helen Dunbar and Tosephine Crowell. Releases for September 4th Named by Pathe AMONG the releases announced by Pathe for the week of Sept. 4th is " The Wolver," the second subject of the new series of Tom Santschi Western dramas. " The Hare and the Frogs " is the title of the " Aesop's Film Fables" release. " Over the Fence " is the reissued Harold Lloyd onereel comedy which presents Bebe Daniels opposite the star. " The Jail Bird " is the title of the new Hal Roach comedy featuring " Snub " Pollard. " The Price of a Throne " is the twelfth episode of " The Yellow Arm," in which Juanita Hansen is starred with Warner Gland and Marguerite Courtot in prominent roles. Pathe Review No. 119 includes a Hy Mayer Travelaugh, " The Little City of Dreams;" a Novagraph subject, " Dancing Alias Hard Work;" views of Waldorf Astor harpooning a porpoise, under the title "The Sea-Pig Hunt;" and scenes of Alrdorff, Switzerland, in Pathecolor. Fight Film Doing Big New York Business The Tex Rickard motion pictures of the Dempsey-Carpentier fight, while temporarily barred from the state of Illinois, are being shown throughout New York state to big business. Six theatres in Greater New York are playing the films continuously from 11 a. m. to 11 p. m., the engagement at the Fortj'-fourth Street theatre being augmented by simultaneous showings at the Shubert Riviera theatre, Broadway and 97th Street; the Bronx Opera House in East 149th Street; Thomashefsky's theatre on the lower East Side; the Lenox theatre in 111th Street, and two theatres in BrookK-n, Teller's Shubert and the Shubert Crescent. At the Halsey Street theatre in Newark the films have reached their eighth week of showing to enormous crowds. ~ ERBOGRAPH COMPANY DWIG G B ERB president MOTION PICTURE DEVELOPIN G AND PRINTING TELEPH ONE AUDUBON 3 716 :i03 TO 211 W. 146 M e: na/ ^ O R K > -m -1-1 TTTjTj^:^